Comments on: What Are Your Priorities?

By: Telephus44

Telephus44 — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:37:40 +0000

Thanks for the honesty Paul! I also have some priorities that aren’t always “the right ones.” For example, taking care of my physical appearance is important to me – like spending money on makeup and getting my nails done – but I hate to put it out there since I’ll be seen as vain or shallow.

By: deRuiter

deRuiter — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:44:31 +0000

#7 Paul, you are a breath of fresh air and honesty! Thank you.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:29:04 +0000

It’s also important to be honest about priorities. It’s tempting, especially if others are going to read it, to put family ahead of hobbies, but I’ll freely admit that I prioritize personal success above family relations (not that they conflict all that often) and consumption hobbies like video games or internet browsing over self-improvement hobbies like reading or working out.

By: Katie

Katie — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 20:17:25 +0000

Okay, to be unduly snarky here for a minute, I’m going to guess that the fact that my totally innocuous comment on this thread went straight to moderation from whence it will likely never be released is a reflection of this website not appearing on the priority list.

By: Heidi @ Pocketchangebook

Heidi @ Pocketchangebook — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:12:14 +0000

Love the idea. Identifying your highest priorities seems like a variation on identifying your values. And, of course, if you know your values, then it simplifies the decision-making process when you have to make financial choices. Takes the willpower battle out of the equation. Makes life easier!

By: lurker carl

lurker carl — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:54:48 +0000

High priorities should not be violated when you work on low priority areas. Priorities throughout the scale should be integrated toward meeting and keeping goals. Priorities need serious review if they are so conflicted.

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:24:44 +0000

1) My relationship with my girlfriend
2) My education
3) Making the world a better place (volunteer work)
4) Travel
5) Ending the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan

By: krantcents

krantcents — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:20:06 +0000

My priority has always been my family and I am enjoying the fruits of that effort. I have a very long marriage (43 years), a great relationship with my children (talk 3-5 times a week) resulting in a happy and fulfilling life. I followed my passion and started teaching 10 years ago and started blogging about a year ago. I managed to accomplish almost all my goals thanks to the love and support of my family.

By: kristine

kristine — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:12:46 +0000

This is an excellent exercise. But the world is not so black and white. True conflict is when people have to juggle their priorities, and two high up on the list conflict. For instance, you are told at work to fire several people, whom you do not think should be fired. But if you resist, you will likely lose your job. You know the firings are wrong, but you also know that it is a small town, and you may end up unemployed for a long time, and you could lose your house, have a kid going to college, and stressed out marriage. Do you follow your conscience, or do what is best for your own family? Yeah, yeah, an emergency fund… but not everyone can risk the job- maybe they have preexisting medical conditions, and need the HI.

It is not just violating your list that causes problems, it can be when forces beyond your control cause top level priorities to come into conflict with each other. Life is complex, and not so either/or. The older you get, the more you realize the world is made up of shades of grey, not black and white. Inability to allow for the grey areas has polarized this country.